Semi-assemblable pinata having an automatically closing center

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure concerns a semi-assemblage piñata with an automatic closing center formed by a set of single-piece components and an original piñata&#39;s center, made of two linked pieces. The set of single pieces and center make a semi-assemblage piñata, ready to use afterwards as a game, piñata, or any other similar use. In addition, the present disclosure is related to the assemblage method of the piñata&#39;s center.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to piñatas and making of piñatas that are festive articles intended to be filled with items of interest and able to be broken so as to reveal such items.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Piñatas in Mexico are a tradition going back more than 450 years. They have their origin on the early years of the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Mexico. The Spanish conquerors taught the Gospel to the natives through certain activities like the “posadas”. Considering the festive atmosphere, it was used to attract people to religious ceremonies. Afterwards, people adopted it to be used on their own popular celebrations, since then it rests in tradition.

Posadas are celebrated during nine days prior to Christmas. The main activities in posadas are a reproduction of Christ's nativity called “pastorela”, singing Christmas songs and breaking a piñata. To Mexicans, a posada is reason enough to gather with family, friends and loved ones to make a huge celebration and share the cheerfulness of the season; posadas actually have been declared cultural immaterial heritage in Mexico.

As part of the posadas or other celebrations, piñatas have an important place in celebrations. Everybody shares the joy of breaking them: children, teenagers, young people or adults as well. Participating in this type of play invites individuals to share emotions, laughs, happiness and amusement. Playing is part of our reality as human beings, it could be said, to play is like an extension of our inner self; it reflects part of our material and spiritual life, by the way one can play at any possible moment. Playing reflects the personality and life style of different social groups. As an indication of this it is well known that many games are transmitted from parents to children; somehow they belong to their tradition and common practices.

Mexican patent application No. MX/a/2011/005457 from Arce A. Diana is art preceding the present disclosure. The piñata of that prior application is formed of separated pieces which are assembled, but unlike the present disclosure, required more pieces and accessories; in fact, the method to assemble the center of this prior piñata is different and does not possess a pre-assembling process.

Prior art includes the following. US Published Patent Application No. US 2005/0197036 from Won et al. discloses two pre-fabricated piñata molds that can be assembled. US Published Patent Application No. US 2003/0139276 from Lozano concerns a piñata that can be assembled in one single step by gluing it, differing from the present disclosure since it does not disclose a process of pre-fabrication or flaps' mechanisms to get the final assemblage.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure concerns a semi-assemblage piñata with automatic closing center; the article can be completed with the combination of separable pieces and an original two-piece center assembly. The assembling of all the pieces, in combination with the center, gives a piñata as a final result. The semi-assemblage piñata then is ready to be used as a game, a piñata itself or any other similar use. Additionally, the present disclosure is associated to the assembling method of the piñata's center.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to make assemblage of a piñata easier as well as reducing the time someone needs to make a piñata, an advantage to the final customer. The present method simplifies especially bringing together the center of the piñata, this way being attractive to preserve different aspects involved in “the making” of an object like this; the present method and disclosure preserve educational, recreational or simple family gathering aspects of building of a piñata. The presently disclosed method and disclosure provides an effective process to realize a satisfactory experience, motivating people to continue enjoying this traditional object.

Having an easy assembling technique to make a piñata through the present semi-assemblage piñata with automatic closing center method helps to avoid any negative mood, tiredness or boredom. It helps to avoid unfinished handicrafts and leads to reaching the encouraging fun moments with family and friends as well as developing manual abilities and the possibility to include this traditional element in celebrations and social gatherings.

The piñata presented in this disclosure is clearly different from the two US prior art publications mentioned before due at least in part to its construction method that includes single-piece components joined to a pre-assembled center; to the method that makes from this article a very compact, light and practical item allowing the final user the possibility of assembling it himself or herself as well as giving him or her a higher practicality and fastness at the moment of getting the piñata assembled.

Qualities described are considered an advantage of the present disclosure overhead the prior art mentioned herein before, due to the fact that the disclosure combines in one single article a pre-assembling process with an automatic closing system, which provides a necessary assembling process that wastes less time than prior processes and products, thereby speeding up the activity and enriching in this way the educational and/or amusement action, avoiding a long and potentially boredom-inducing process. In addition, the present product and process original qualities, being a foldable piñata that can be assembled, exhibiting pre-fabricated, compact, light, etc., qualities that prior art or traditional piñatas are unable to offer in one single item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To make it easier to understand and help the reader to a better comprehension of the description, characteristics and operation of the invention drawings illustrating the products and processes accompany the present description.

FIG. 1 is a frontal plan view of an embodiment of the piñata already assembled and completed;

FIG. 2 is a plan view from a spread-out side one of the center of the single-piece component for the piñata of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view from a spread-out side two of the center of the single-piece component for the piñata of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating one of the cones unfolded;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the folding process of the center from both sides for the blank for the piñata of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating positioning of side one aside side two of the center before joining them;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a next step to assemble side one and side two of the center to make a single piece;

FIG. 8 is a perspective front view of the center amalgamated and assembled into one single piece;

FIG. 9 is a perspective, three-dimensional view of the center after being unfolded;

FIG. 10 is a perspective center's side view, illustrating the process that allows it to keep its three-dimensional form through the automatic closing mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view from the top, showing a perspective of the whole body from a three-dimensional sight, showing the hole on top useful to stuff the piñata with candies and toys and to also pass the rope to hang the piñata;

FIG. 12 is a frontal perspective of the cones folded in this embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a frontal perspective view of a cone of FIG. 12 assembled;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view that shows how, from top, a peak is inserted into the core of the piñata from a three-dimensional sight;

FIG. 15 is an exploded upper perspective view of the core (three-dimensional), illustrating joining of the cones to the rest of the piñata;

FIG. 16 is an upper perspective view of the piñata in an assembled and decorated embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a plan lateral second view from side one of the center, illustrating a mechanism to pull together the flaps to close this piñata embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a plan lateral second view from side two of the center, illustrating the mechanism of FIG. 17 to pull together the flaps to close the piñata;

FIG. 19 is an unfolded perspective view illustrating how both sides of the center are assembled together using the joining flaps to close same;

FIG. 20 is a perspective from a second view illustrating pulling together side one and side two of the center in order to secure or stick together both sides using the flaps on the closing mechanism of this embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a side perspective second view of the center's sides, showing how both sides are secured, assembled or stuck together forming a single flat piece after using the flaps to close it;

FIG. 22 is a frontal elevation of the center pulled up together to create a single flat part using the closing flaps;

FIG. 23 is a second lateral or elevation view of the center after this has been unfolded into a three-dimensional article by using the closing mechanism; and

FIG. 24 is a lateral or elevation view of the center similar to FIG. 23, showing how its three-dimensional form is maintained or secured using the closing flaps mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures before summarized illustrate piñata embodiments and forming same from diverse pre-fabricated pieces, which could be made of different materials, and how a pre-assemblage process is involved, further details provided according to the following description.

Center assembly (FIG. 8) is formed of two single-piece components; side one (FIG. 2) and side two (FIG. 3). Both sides of the center assembly are made of twelve triangular panels (identified by numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12).

All of these panels have at the center of their widest part a narrow but long slot 13. The triangular panels are, at the same time, stuck together to a different series of smaller triangular panels (14 to each of panels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 from center) and (15-15B to panels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 from center). Triangular panels 14 and 15B have rounded holes (16). Triangular panel number 12 of the side one of the center assembly is missing a panel 14 (FIG. 2). Triangular panel number 1 of the side two of the center assembly is missing panels 15 and 15B (FIG. 3).

To pull together both sides one and two of the center assembly it is necessary to fold first the triangular panels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) each side, from center up and from center down alternating them (FIG. 5). A second step is to fold the smaller triangular panels (14 and 15) and finally panels 15B placed in panels (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11) from both sides of the center to the opposite side of the triangular small panels 14 and 15 (FIG. 5).

Subsequently, it is necessary to build the pre-assembled center of the piñata. Doing this requires placing the small triangular panels 15B on side one of the center assembly above triangular small panels 14 on side two for the center assembly (FIG. 6) and then gluing them (FIG. 7). This procedure is the same for each of the six triangular small panels 15B on side one of the center and for the six triangular small panels 14 on side two of the center just like for each of the five triangular small panels 14 from side one of the center and for the five triangular small panels 15B from side two of the center (FIG. 7). This continues until a flat piece (FIG. 8) is formed.

In order to complete the piñata, the center assembly must be transformed from a flat piece (FIG. 8) into a three-dimensional configuration (FIG. 9). To obtain this configuration, longest opposite sides 25 formed with the triangular panels of the center (FIG. 8), must be pushed from the flat piece towards a middle point holding it through the automatic closing mechanism to preserve its three-dimensional shape (FIG. 9).

Once the three-dimensional center assembly is configured, it is necessary to locate the rounded holes 16 from the smaller triangular panels 15 evidently placed on top of the rounded holes 16 from the smaller triangular panels 14 in both sides of the center (FIG. 10). The next step is to place the rope 26 around the three-dimensional shape into the rounded holes 16, previously superimposed on both sides of the center (FIG. 10). To that purpose the rope 26 must be introduced into hole 16 put on top from triangular panel 1 of side one (FIG. 2) to triangular panel 12 of side two of the center (FIG. 3), taking it around the three-dimensional shape of the center assembly (FIG. 10) and take the rope 26 finally out through hole 27 resulting from taking off the triangular panel 14 from triangular panel 12 of side one of the center (FIG. 2) and result also from taking off triangular panels 15 and 15B from triangular panel 1 of side two of the center assembly (FIG. 3 and FIG. 11).

There are six areas having the same shape, same size; denominated “cones” (FIG. 4). These cones show five panels (18, 19, 20, 21 and 22). Panel 18 has a long flap on its lateral external side 7; panel 22 has a long slot located also at lateral side, between panels 21 and 22. At the same time, each panel has a flap on the lower part 24 except for panel 22.

In order to build each cone, all the panels must be folded (18, 19, 20, 21 and 22), long flap must be inserted 27 into a long slot 23 (FIG. 12), resulting in a four-sided pyramidal piece (FIG. 13). The same procedure must be completed for the rest of cones.

Each cone is joined independently to the three-dimensional center assembly inserting their lower flaps 24 into the long slots 13. Every triangular panel has (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) both sides of the center (FIG. 14). The same procedure must be done for the other five cones into each side from the three-dimensional object.

When desired, decoration can be included on this item 28. Some such decoration is illustrated in FIG. 16. It will be appreciated the decoration can be optionally used and varied according to each person's taste.

A second embodiment or possibility for assembling of the piñata's center assembly also is illustrated. It has been described previously that center assembly (FIG. 8) is formed by two single-piece components; side one (FIG. 2) and side two (FIG. 3). Both side one and side two are formed by twelve triangular panels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12). All these panels have along their widest part a narrow slot 13; these triangular panels are stuck together to another series of smaller triangular panels. These are panels (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12) of this center assembly component and 15-15B for panels (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11) of this center assembly component. It has been also described that small triangular panels 14 and 15B have rounded holes 16.

For this second embodiment or modality, the smaller triangular panels 15 (FIGS. 17 and 18) have some large slots 16B (FIG. 17 and FIG. 18) and triangular panels 15B (FIG. 17 and FIG. 18) have flaps 15C (FIG. 17 and FIG. 18).

It has been also described herein that, to pull together both sides one and two of the center assembly, one must at first fold the triangular panels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) alternating each side, up and down respectively (FIG. 5). Afterwards smaller triangular panels 14 and triangular panel 15 must be folded, and finally panels 15B are placed in panels (1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11) from both sides of the center to the opposite side of the triangular small panels 14 and 15 (FIG. 5).

According to this second embodiment, modality or method, flaps 15C (FIGS. 17 and 18) must be folded towards the same side than small triangular panel 14 and panel 15.

As described herein, in order to pre-assemble the piñata's core, it is necessary to place the small triangular panels 15B on side one of the center assembly above triangular small panels 14 on side two of the center assembly (FIG. 6), then gluing them (FIG. 7). This procedure was the same for each of the six triangular small panels 15B on side one of the center assembly and to the six triangular small panels 14 on side two of the center assembly, just like to each of the five triangular small panels 14 from side one of the center assembly and to the five triangular small panels 158 from side two of the center assembly (FIG. 7), until the flat piece is formed (FIG. 8). For this second embodiment or modality, this pre-assemblage remains substantially consistent, just as shown on FIG. 20, FIG. 21 and FIG. 22.

Likewise, it has been previously described that in order to complete the piñata, the center components and assembly must be transformed from a flat piece (FIG. 8) into a three-dimensional configuration (FIG. 9). To obtain this configuration, the longest opposite sides 25, formed with the triangular panels of the center (FIG. 8), must be pushed from the flat piece towards a middle point holding it through the automatic closing mechanism to preserve its three-dimensional shape (FIG. 9).

In this second embodiment or modality, to transform the flat center (FIG. 22) into a three-dimensional configuration (FIG. 23), it is necessary to insert all the flaps 15C (FIG. 17 and FIG. 18) from all the smaller triangular panels 15B (FIG. 17 and FIG. 18) both, side one and side two of the center assembly, into the large slots 16B (FIG. 17 and FIG. 18) from all the smaller triangular panels 15 (FIG. 17 and FIG. 18) both sides of the center assembly (FIG. 23). This procedure must be repeated each time in every side until center has a three-dimensional shape (FIG. 24).

The present disclosure includes its discovery of significant shortcomings of Mexican patent application Serial No. MX/a/2011/05457 from Arce A. Diane. These include the following: The final customer or user needs to unfold and assemble the center of the piñata. In order to assemble the mentioned center, many separate pieces are needed that must be joined together through flaps and additional elements like strings or press buttons. The assembling process to build the center of the piñata could be difficult to understand, causing some difficulties in assembling and fixing the multiple parts together, which could take more time than planned to build it. There is also the limitation that same should be built considering only 4 or 6 cones; in other words, it has to be considered making them always with an even number of cones.

The piñata of this present disclosure solves all the complications and shortcomings mentioned above. The final user will not become exhausted at the moment of assembling the piñata. The pre-assemblage features and processes considered according to the present embodiments or modalities allow the final customer or user to reduce 80% of the time required to assemble the piñata's center. On the other hand, users do not need to stress about extremely difficult processes; they won't waste time unfolding or cementing the innovative center assembly of this disclosure, nor need to count numerous pieces. Due to the significant pre-assembled procedure of this disclosure, the final customer or user gets a compact pre-assembled center ready to be unfolded and so is able to finish himself or herself the assembly of the piñata. Finally, under this modality, the piñata can be built with as many cones as customer needs or desires, with any kind of restrictions. Any needed assembly instructions can be clearly written for the relatively few assembly steps and details.

In addition to all the characteristics and improvements of this disclosure described herein, the embodiments of this piñata offer the following benefits:

-   -   A) The piñatas are formed by a set of single-piece components.         The single-piece components form an original and unique center         assembly with automatic closing. These characteristics make         considerably easier the assemblage process for the final user.     -   B) The space needed to keep the piñatas or to carry them is         significantly reduced. For example, thanks to the assemblage         method, the minimal single-piece components can be transformed         from a flat piece into a three-dimensional shape with ease.     -   C) Thanks to the pre-assemblage process and the way the minimal         number of piñata parts are pulled together through certain         “locks” that originate an automatic closing system, these         piñatas become articles which are easier to assemble than other         models on similar piñatas.     -   D) The materials out of which the piñatas of the present         disclosure are fabricated are safe and guarantee positive         amusements, protecting physical integrity of any person at or in         the vicinity of the assembly location.     -   E) Due to its characteristics, it is possible for many people to         construct these piñatas. They are articles accessible to         numerous persons, and it is easy to supply the piñatas.     -   F) Recycled materials are appropriate to make the piñatas,         providing an important environmental advantage, being of value         to save the planet.     -   G) The user is not restricted by limits on the grouping of cones         and may decide how many cones he or she want to use, whether an         odd number or an even number of cones. 

1. A semi-assemblage piñata with automatic closing center, comprising: a) a center having two sides, each side has twelve triangular panels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12); each panel has a slot (13) and has a second series of smaller triangular panels (14, 15 and 15B), each smaller triangular panel has a rounded hole in the middle (16), and each side is a single piece; b) cones, each cone having five panels (18, 19, 20, 21 and 22), flaps (17 and 24) and a slot (23); c) a support rope (26); and d) decorative material.
 2. The semi-assemblage piñata with automatic closing center according to claim 1, wherein the slots (13) are on the widest part of the triangular panels on both sides of the center, and the rounded holes (16) are in the middle of the small triangular panels (14 and 15B).
 3. The semi-assemblage piñata with automatic closing center according to claim 1, wherein the panel 18 of the cones has a long flap (17) on a lateral side and panel (22) has a slot (23) located laterally between panels, each panel, except for panel (22), has, at the same time, a flap at an inferior part (24).
 4. The semi-assemblage piñata with automatic closing center according to claim 1, wherein the piñata contains extra elements including a support rope (26) and decorative material (28).
 5. A semi-assemblage piñata with automatic closing center, comprising: i. a center having two sides, each side has twelve triangular panels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12; each panel has a slot (13) and has to a second series of smaller triangular panels (14, 15 and 15B), each smaller triangular panel has a rounded hole in the middle (16), and each side is a single piece, and wherein smaller triangular panels (15) have a slot and small triangular panels (15B) have at the same time flaps (15C); ii. cones, each cone having five panels (18, 19, 20, 21 and 22), flaps (17 and 24) and a long slot (23); iii. a support rope (26); and iv. decorative material (28)
 6. The semi-assemblage piñata with automatic closing center according to claim 5, wherein current slots in the middle of the widest part of triangular panel's body on both sides of the center are long and holes in the small triangular panels (14 and 15B) right in their middle are rounded (16).
 7. The semi-assemblage piñata with automatic closing center according to claim 5, wherein flaps (15C) are made of two parts: a head and a fragment that bonds the head of the flap and the rest of the piece.
 8. A method to assemble a piñata center assembly having a side one and a side two, comprising the following steps: a) folding triangular panels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) of side one and of side two, alternating from both sides of the center up and down; b) folding correspondingly small triangular panels (14 and 15) towards backside of side one and of side two; c) folding in conclusion the small triangular panels (15B) to the opposite side of the folded part from the two remaining triangular panels; d) putting on top the inside of side one of the center with the inside of side two of the center until small triangular panels (14) of side one and small triangular panels (15B) of side two from center overlap; as well with small triangular panels (15B) of side one and small triangular panels (14) of side two from center; e) fastening small triangular panels (14), both sides of the center, to small triangular panels (15B), both sides of the center, gluing and putting pressure on them until center is flat; f) pressing the longest side (25) formed by the triangular panels of the center from the flat piece until the middle point, fastening it through the mechanism of automatic closing to keep a three-dimensional shape of the center assembly; g) repeating the same procedure to all sides of the center until three-dimensional form is complete; and h) inserting a support rope (26) through the rounded hole (16) on top from corresponding triangular panel 1 from side one of the center assembly and from triangular panel 12 from side two of the center assembly; taking it around of the three-dimensional form through the holes system overlapped (16) and taking the rope (26) out; finally, through hole (27) formed with the separation of small triangular panel (14) from triangular panel 12 from side one of center assembly and the small triangular panels (15 and 15B) from triangular panel 1 side two of the center assembly. 